Search

This study aimed to explore the effects of different lipid sources on the performance, blood lipid parameters, immune system activity, and the expression of TNFα and TLR4 genes in broiler chickens. A total of 500 one-day-old male chicks of the ROSS 308 commercial strain were allocated into four treatment groups with five replicates each (each replicate comprised of 25 chickens), following a randomized design. The treatments were as follows: (1) a diet incorporating palm oil (PO, a source of saturated fatty acids); (2) a diet incorporating flaxseed oil (FO, a source of omega-3); (3) a diet incorporating soybean oil (SO, a source of omega-6); and (4) a diet incorporating olive oil (OO, a source of omega-9). According to the findings, the broiler chickens exhibited a significant increase in body weight gain (BWG) throughout the study when their diet consisted of unsaturated oils, as opposed to a diet including PO. Conversely, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly decreased (P<0.01). The treatment with FO resulted in the highest percentage of lymphocytes and antibody titers against Newcastle and Gumboro diseases, showing a significant difference compared to the treatment with PO (P<0.01). Moreover, the relative expression of TNFα and TLR4 genes was the lowest following the FO treatment, indicating a significant decrease compared to the treatment with PO. Overall, the present findings demonstrated that incorporating omega-3 fatty acids into the diet was more effective in enhancing the growth performance, immune system, and health of broiler chickens., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors declared that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The present study investigates the temporal effects of flaxseed supplementation on boar semen quality, antioxidant status, and in-vivo fertility under high-temperature humidity index (THI) conditions in a sub-tropical climate. Twelve Hampshire crossbreed boars were randomly assigned to control and treatment groups, with the treatment group receiving flaxseed oil supplementation. Semen samples were collected and analyzed for semen quality parameters, sperm kinematics, and antioxidant status. Fertility outcomes were assessed through in-vivo mating trials. Flaxseed supplementation resulted in time dependent significant improvements in semen volume, sperm concentration, total and progressive sperm motility, sperm quality parameters, and antioxidant status. Fertility outcomes, including farrowing rates and litter sizes, were also enhanced in the flaxseed-supplemented group. These findings highlight the potential of flaxseed supplementation to improve boar fertility under high ambient stress conditions, with implications for optimizing reproductive performance in swine production systems., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Omega-3 (ω3) fatty acids are widely investigated for their anti-inflammatory potential, however, there is little evidence regarding their action in the lung parenchyma in the context of obesity. The objective is to investigate the effects of flaxseed oil (FS), rich in α-linolenic (C18:3 - ω3), on the lungs of obese mice. Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HF) for 8 weeks to induce obesity. Subsequently, a part of these animals received HF containing FS oil for another 8 weeks. The HF consumption induced weight gain and hyperglycemia. The lung parenchyma shows a complete fatty acids profile, compared to the control group (CT). In the lung parenchyma, FS increases the ω3 content and, notwithstanding a reduction in the interleukins (IL) IL1β and IL18 contents compared to HF. However, FS promoted increased alveolar spaces, followed by MCP1 (Monocytes Chemoattractant Protein-1) positive cell infiltration and a dramatic reduction in the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL10. Despite reducing the pulmonary inflammatory response, the consumption of a food source of ω3 was associated with alterations in the lipid profile and histoarchitecture of the lung parenchyma, which can lead to the development of pulmonary complications. This study brings an alert against the indiscriminate use of ω3 supplements, warranting caution., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Flaxseed is the richest source of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, which is converted by ruminal microorganisms primarily to the mammalian lignan enterolactone. Our objective was to investigate the effect of diets containing soybean meal or flaxseed meal (FM) supplemented with sucrose, flaxseed oil, or both, on milk enterolactone concentration yield, diversity, and relative abundance of ruminal bacterial taxa, ruminal fermentation profile, production performance, milk fatty acids (FA) yield, and nutrient utilization in dairy cows. Sixteen Holstein cows (8 multiparous [4 ruminally cannulated] and 8 primiparous) averaging (mean ± SD) 134 ± 54.1 DIM and 679 ± 78.9 kg of BW in the beginning of the study were assigned to treatment sequences in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Each experimental period lasted 25 d, with 18 d for diet adaptation and 7 d for data and sample collection. Diets were formulated to contain a 60:40 forage:concentrate ratio and included the following (DM basis): (1) 8% soybean meal and 23% ground corn (SBM); (2) 15% FM, 10.7% ground corn, and 5% sucrose (FLX+S); (3) 15% FM, 15.4% ground corn, and 3% flaxseed oil (FLX+O); and (4) 15% FM, 10.2% ground corn, 5% sucrose, and 3% flaxseed oil (FLX+SO). Compared with SBM, the concentration and yield of milk enterolactone increased in cows fed the FM diets but did not differ among FLX+S, FLX+O, and FLX+SO. The relative abundances of the phyla Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobiota, and Actinobacteriota, and those of the bacterial genera Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group, Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group, Anaeromusa-Anaeroarcus, WCHB1-41, and p-251-o5 decreased, whereas Prevotella and NK4A214 group increased when comparing SBM against at least 1 diet containing FM. Furthermore, the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota and those of Prevotella, Lachnospiraceae NK3A20 group, Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group, Acetitomaculum, Lachnospiraceae unclassified, NK4A214 group, and Anaeromusa-Anaeroarcus changed (increased or decreased) across the FLX+S, FLX+O, and FLX+SO diets. However, all these changes in the relative abundance of the ruminal bacterial taxa were not conclusively associated with the effect of diets on milk enterolactone. Diets did not affect ruminal pH and concentrations of NH 3 -N and total VFA. Dry matter intake and yields of milk, milk fat, and milk true protein all decreased in cows fed FLX+O or FLX+SO. Yields of milk total odd-chain FA, branched-chain FA, total <16C FA, and total 16C FA decreased with feeding FLX+O and FLX+SO. The apparent total-tract digestibilities of DM and OM were lowest in the FLX+S and FLX+O diets, with CP and ADF digestibilities lowest in cows receiving FLX+S or FLX+O, respectively. Urinary excretion of total N was lowest with feeding SBM. Contrarily, diets did not affect the urinary excretion of total purine derivatives. In brief, despite the effect of diets on the relative abundance of several ruminal microbiota phyla and genera, we were unable to conclusively associate these changes with increased milk enterolactone in FM-containing diets versus SBM., (The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

Scope: Ferroptosis has been demonstrated to play an important role in various tissue injuries and diseases. Flaxseed oil (FO) has been proven to have benefits for intestinal health. This study aims to explore whether FO relieved lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury through modulating ferroptosis signaling pathway., Methods and Results: A total of 120 weaned piglets are fed diets with 3% soybean oil (SO) or 3% FO for 4 weeks. At the end of the trial, 24 piglets selected from two dietary treatment groups are used in a 2 × 2 factorial design with oil treatment (3% SO versus 3% FO) and LPS challenge (saline versus LPS). At 4 h postinjection with LPS, 24 piglets are slaughtered and intestinal samples are collected. FO improves growth performance of pigs. After LPS treatment, FO mitigates intestinal morphological damage and functional damage. Notably, FO reverses the typical ultra-morphology and biochemical indexes of ferroptosis involving glutathione, malondialdehyde, and 4-hydroxynonenal contents. Mechanistically, FO ameliorates the changes on mRNA or protein abundance of key ferroptosis signals including transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1), recombinant iron responsive element binding protein 2 (IREB2), FTL, HSPB1, ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), ferroportin 1 (FPN1), SLC7A11, solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and arachidonate-15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15)., Conclusions: FO improves growth performance and mitigates intestinal structural and functional damage, which is involved in regulating ferroptosis signaling pathway., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Studies investigating the effects of flaxseed oil on lipid profiles, weight loss, and inflammatory markers have produced inconsistent results. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to explore the impact of flaxseed oil on these parameters in hemodialysis patients. The study protocol was registered online (PROSPERO number: CRD42023484076). The meta-analyses showed a significant decrease in triglyceride (TG) levels (WMD = -85.78 mg/dL, 95% CI: -155.24 to -16.32, I 2  = 98.32%) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (WMD = -2.66 mg/L, 95% CI: -4.07 to -1.24, I 2  = 92.26%) following consumption of flaxseed oil. Subgroup analyses revealed significant changes in LDL-C, HDL-C, and TC levels only in trials utilizing a dosage higher than 10 g per day and using ground flaxseed oil. Based on the results, flaxseed oil improves CRP and TG levels, and higher doses positively affect lipid profiles. However, it has no significant effect on anthropometric measures., (© 2024 International Society for Apheresis and Japanese Society for Apheresis.)

To evaluate the fatty acid (FA) metabolism status and possibility as a DHA source of farmed Onychostoma macrolepis, a total of 168 fish (2.03 ± 0.23 g) were fed four diets supplemented with fish oil (FO), linseed oil (LO), soybean oil (SO), and a mixture of LO and SO oil (MO), respectively, for 70 days. Body FA compositions were modified reflecting dietary FAs. Comparing liver and intestine fatty acids with fish fed four diets, the content of ARA in fish fed SO was significantly higher than others (P < 0.05), but showed no difference in muscle. The tissue FA profile showed that the FO-fed group successfully deposited DHA, while the LO-fed group converted ALA to DHA effectively, as well as the liver and intestine EPA was notably highest in the FO group, whereas no difference between the FO and LO group in the muscle. The FA results showed that the DHA contents in the muscle of Onychostoma macrolepis are at a medium-high level compared with several other fish species with the highest aquaculture yield. Correspondingly, in the fish fed diet with LO, SO, and MO, the genes of most FA biosynthesis, transportation, and transcriptional regulation factors were increased in the liver and muscle, but no significant difference was observed in the gene expression of Elovl4b, FATP1, and FABP10 in the muscle. In addition, the enzyme activity involved in PUFA metabolism was higher in fish fed vegetable oil-based diets, corroborating the results of the gene expression. Increased in vivo elongase and desaturase (Δ5, Δ6, and Δ9) activities were recorded in fish fed fish oil-devoid diets, which resulted in the appearance of products associated with elongase and desaturase activities in fish. Besides, as the specific n-3 PUFA synthesis substrate, the dietary supplementation of ALA not only retains most of the nutrition value but also ensures the muscular texture, such as fiber diameter and density. It is concluded that farmed O. macrolepis owns strong n-3 LC-PUFA biosynthetic capacity and high DHA contents so it can be a good DHA source for the population., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

(1) Background: We examined the effect of the acute administration of olive oil (EVOO), linseed oil (GLO), soybean oil (SO), and palm oil (PO) on gastric motility and appetite in rats. (2) Methods: We assessed food intake, gastric retention (GR), and gene expression in all groups. (3) Results: Both EVOO and GLO were found to enhance the rate of stomach retention, leading to a decrease in hunger. On the other hand, the reduction in food intake caused by SO was accompanied by delayed effects on stomach retention. PO caused an alteration in the mRNA expression of NPY, POMC, and CART. Although PO increased stomach retention after 180 min, it did not affect food intake. It was subsequently verified that the absence of an autonomic reaction did not nullify the influence of EVOO in reducing food consumption. Moreover, in the absence of parasympathetic responses, animals that received PO exhibited a significant decrease in food consumption, probably mediated by lower NPY expression. (4) Conclusions: This study discovered that different oils induce various effects on parameters related to food consumption. Specifically, EVOO reduces food consumption primarily through its impact on the gastrointestinal tract, making it a recommended adjunct for weight loss. Conversely, the intake of PO limits food consumption in the absence of an autonomic reaction, but it is not advised due to its contribution to the development of cardiometabolic disorders.

Exposure to the neurotoxin trimethyltin (TMT) selectively induces hippocampal neuronal injury and astrocyte activation accompanied with resultant neuroinflammation, which causes severe behavioral, cognitive, and memory impairment. A large body of evidence suggests that flaxseed oil (FSO), as one of the richest sources of essential omega-3 fatty acids, i.e., α-linolenic acids (ALA), displays neuroprotective properties. Here, we report the preventive effects of dietary FSO treatment in a rat model of TMT intoxication. The administration of FSO (1 mL/kg, orally) before and over the course of TMT intoxication (a single dose, 8 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced hippocampal cell death, prevented the activation of astrocytes, and inhibited their polarization toward a pro-inflammatory/neurotoxic phenotype. The underlying protective mechanism was delineated through the selective upregulation of BDNF and PI3K/Akt and the suppression of ERK activation in the hippocampus. Pretreatment with FSO reduced cell death and efficiently suppressed the expression of inflammatory molecules. These beneficial effects were accompanied by an increased intrahippocampal content of n-3 fatty acids. In vitro, ALA pretreatment prevented the TMT-induced polarization of cultured astrocytes towards the pro-inflammatory spectrum. Together, these findings support the beneficial neuroprotective properties of FSO/ALA against TMT-induced neurodegeneration and accompanied inflammation and hint at a promising preventive use of FSO in hippocampal degeneration and dysfunction.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how ascorbic acid with dietary flaxseed oil affects the quality and fertility of cryopreserved ram sperm in South African indigenous rams. Treatment diets were supplemented 60 days before semen collection to afford proper spermatogenesis, adaptation to the feed formulated and fed throughout the study. Semen was collected with the use of artificial vagina following dietary supplementation with five treatment diets (neg. cont. - negative control, pos. cont. - positive control, FLO - 5% Flaxseed oil, ASA - 4% Ascorbic acid, and FLO + ASA). Semen was then extended using tris-based extender and cryopreserved using the programmable freezer (CBS Freezer 2100 series, Laboratory consumables & chemical suppliers, America). Ovaries were collected from a neighbouring slaughter house and conveyed to the lab in 0.9% saline at 37 °C. Data (sperm parameters and in vitro fertility) was then exposed to the GLM (General Linear Model) in Minitab 17. Pearson's correlation coefficient was utilized to investigate the relationship between cryopreserved sperm quality and in vitro fertility. The student Least Significant Difference Test was used to separate the treatment means, and differences were accepted when the p-value was less than 0.05. The FLO + ASA group had higher (p < 0.05) progressive (36.33 ± 1.87), total (88.24 ± 2.24), rapid motility (27.52 ± 1.74), intact plasma membrane (75.67 ± 2.08), total fertilization (65.98 ± 7.39), and total cleavage (66.19 ± 6.50) when compared to other treatment groups. Total fertilization rate had a medium significant (p < 0.001) medium correlation with the progressive motility (r2 = 0.435), total motility (r 2  = 0.447) and rapid motility (r 2  = 0.409). In conclusion, dietary flaxseed and ascorbic acid (FLO + ASA) improves cryopreserved semen quality, in vitro fertilization rate, and the total cleavage rate. Noteworthy, the progressive, total and rapid motility play a crucial in the in vitro fertilization rate., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The antioxidant activity of curcumin and curcumin esters was investigated in oleogel and emulgel produced by linseed oil. In the initiation phase, curcumin acetate at 1.086 mM concentration showed the highest antioxidant activity in linseed oil, while curcumin at 2.172 mM concentration showed the highest antioxidant activity in oleogel. In the propagation phase, curcumin and curcumin esters exhibited higher efficiency in linseed oil samples than those of oleogel samples. In the initiation phase, curcumin hexanoate showed higher antioxidant activity than curcumin acetate and curcumin butyrate, while curcumin hexanoate showed lower efficiency than curcumin acetate and curcumin butyrate in the propagation phase. Investigating the mechanism of action of curcumin and curcumin esters in oleogel and emulgel showed that in addition to inhibiting peroxyl radicals, curcumin and curcumin esters were likely to pro-oxidatively attack hydroperoxides. Also, curcumin and curcumin esters radicals were likely to attack lipid substrates in these systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The principal function of skin is to form an effective barrier between the human body and its environment. Impaired barrier function represents a precondition for the development of skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD), which is the most common inflammatory skin disease characterized by skin barrier dysfunction. AD significantly affects patients' quality of life, thus, there is a growing interest in the development of novel delivery systems that would improve therapeutic outcomes. Herein, eight novel lyotropic liquid crystals (LCCs) were investigated for the first time in a double-blind, interventional, before-after, single-group trial with healthy adult subjects and a twice-daily application regimen. LCCs consisted of constituents with skin regenerative properties and exhibited lamellar micro-structure, especially suitable for dermal application. The short- and long-term effects of LCCs on TEWL, SC hydration, erythema index, melanin index, and tolerability were determined and compared with baseline. LCCs with the highest oil content and lecithin/Tween 80 mixture stood out by providing a remarkable 2-fold reduction in TEWL values and showing the most distinctive decrease in skin erythema levels in both the short- and long-term exposure. Therefore, they exhibit great potential for clinical use as novel delivery systems for AD treatment, capable of repairing skin barrier function., (© 2024 Mercedes Vitek et al., published by Sciendo.)

Background: This study was designed to explore the effects of flaxseed oil on the metaphase II (MII) oocyte rates in women with decreased ovarian reserve (DOR)., Methods: The women with DOR were divided into a study group (n = 108, flaxseed oil treatment) and a control group (n = 110, no treatment). All patients were treated with assisted reproductive technology (ART). Subsequently, the ART stimulation cycle parameters, embryo transfer (ET) results, and clinical reproductive outcomes were recorded. The influencing factors affecting the MII oocyte rate were analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate analysis., Results: Flaxseed oil reduced the recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) dosage and stimulation time and increased the peak estradiol (E2) concentration in DOR women during ART treatment. The MII oocyte rate, fertilization rate, cleavage rate, high-quality embryo rate, and blastocyst formation rate were increased after flaxseed oil intervention. The embryo implantation rate of the study group was higher than that of the control group ( p = 0.05). Additionally, the female age [odds ratio (OR): 0.609, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52-0.72, p < 0.01] was the hindering factor of MII oocyte rate, while anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH; OR: 100, 95% CI: 20.31-495, p < 0.01), peak E2 concentration (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00-1.00, p = 0.01), and the intake of flaxseed oil (OR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.06-5.93, p = 0.04) were the promoting factors for MII oocyte rate., Conclusion: Flaxseed oil improved ovarian response and the quality of oocytes and embryos, thereby increasing the fertilization rate and high-quality embryo rate in DOR patients. The use of flaxseed oil was positively correlated with MII oocyte rate in women with DOR., Clinical Trial Number: https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2300073785., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chu, Yu, Zhang, Zhang and Yu.)

Flaxseed is an ancient commercial oil that historically has been used as a functional food to lower cholesterol levels. However, despite its longstanding treatment, there is currently a lack of scientific evidence to support its role in the management of cardiac remodeling. This study aimed to address this gap in knowledge by examining the molecular mechanism of standardized flaxseed oil in restoring cardiac remodeling in the heart toxicity vivo model. The oil fraction was purified, and the major components were standardized by qualitative and quantitative analysis. In vivo experimental design was conducted using isoproterenol ISO (85 mg/kg) twice subcutaneously within 24 h between each dose. The rats were treated with flaxseed oil fraction (100 mg/kg orally) and the same dose was used for omega 3 supplement as a positive control group. The GC-MS analysis revealed that α-linolenic acid (24.6%), oleic acid (10.5%), glycerol oleate (9.0%) and 2,3-dihydroxypropyl elaidate (7%) are the major components of oil fraction. Physicochemical analysis indicated that the acidity percentage, saponification, peroxide, and iodine values were 0.43, 188.57, 1.22, and 122.34 respectively. As compared with healthy control, ISO group-induced changes in functional cardiac parameters. After 28-day pretreatment with flaxseed oil, the results indicated an improvement in cardiac function, a decrease in apoptosis, and simultaneous prevention of myocardial fibrosis. The plasma levels of BNP, NT-pro-BNP, endothelin-1, Lp-PLA2, and MMP2, and cTnI and cTn were significantly diminished, while a higher plasma level of Topo 2B was observed. Additionally, miRNA - 1 and 29b were significantly downregulated. These findings provide novel insight into the mechanism of flaxseed oil in restoring cardiac remodeling and support its future application as a cardioprotective against heart diseases., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Induction of obesity by dietary fats and oils differs according to the type of fat. Adiponectin is believed to be related to obesity prevention. We hypothesized that flaxseed oil is important for preventing obesity and producing adiponectin. To clarify this hypothesis, we investigated the relationship between obesity and different fat sources in mice fed diets with 6 types of fat and oils. C57BL/6J mice were given a control diet containing 5% corn oil or a high-fat diet containing 20% of either lard, palm oil, rapeseed oil, oleate-rich safflower oil, corn oil, or flaxseed oil for 14 weeks. In another experiment, mice were given a control diet and rosiglitazone (10 mg/kg body weight) by oral gavage for 1 week. At the end of study, plasma adiponectin and expression of fatty acid metabolism-related factors in white and brown adipose tissue and the liver were measured. Dietary flaxseed oil, which is rich in α-linolenic acid, did not induce obesity. Flaxseed oil resulted in increased β-oxidation-related factors in epididymal white adipose tissue, decreased fatty acid synthesis-related factors in the liver, and thermogenesis-related factor in brown adipose tissue following increase of plasma adiponectin. The results suggested that increase in plasma adiponectin after intake of flaxseed oil may be due to altered expression of AdipoQ and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ in epididymal white adipose tissue. Flaxseed oil increased expression of adiponectin in visceral fat and regulated obesity-controlling fatty acid metabolism-related factors in white adipose tissue and liver, and thermogenesis-related factor in brown adipose tissue., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Flaxseed oil (FO) has been demonstrated its multiple beneficial effects in vivo due to high concentration of α-linolenic acid. The deterioration of FO can be triggered by high temperature heating during the deep frying process resulting in alteration of healthy properties. In this study, the effect of FO before and after deep frying on lipid metabolism and gut homeostasis of rats was investigated compared to deep-fried palm oil (DPO) treated group. Deep-fried flaxseed oil (DFO) treatment significantly enhanced the triglyceride accumulation in serum and liver tissues of rats. A greater increase of peroxides and proinflammatory cytokine levels was found in the serum of DFO treated rats compared to other groups. The histopathologic data indicated that DFO and DPO reduced the villus height of intestinal and colonic tissues and increased the inflammatory cell infiltration. The inflammatory cytokines (TNFα and IL-6) were enhanced and the key markers of epithelia colonic tissues (occludin and MUC-2) were suppressed in rats with DFO interventions, which is in consistency with histopathologic results. In addition, FO could increase the number of beneficial bacteria while the relative abundance of obesity and inflammatory-related bacteria was promoted by DFO treatment, including Ruminococcaceae, Prevotellaceae, and Selenomonadales. In conclusion, DFO intake had a significant impact on the disruption of gut barrier homeostasis, potentially worsening the dysbiosis than DPO. The beneficial effects of FO in vivo could be significantly reduced by extreme deep frying, which suggests the need for moderate cooking edible oils such as FO., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hyperammonemia is characterized by the excessive accumulation of ammonia in the body as a result of the loss of liver detoxification, leading to the development of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). These metabolic alterations carry cognitive and motor deficits and cause neuronal damage, with no effective treatment at present. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of two subacute oral administrations of flaxseed oil (0.26 and 0.52 mL/kg) on short- and long-term memory, visuospatial memory, locomotor activity, motor coordination, and the neuronal morphology of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) via tests on Wistar rats with hyperammonemia. The goal was to identify its role in the regulation of cerebral edema, without liver damage causing cerebral failure. In contrast with an ammonium-rich diet, flaxseed oil and normal foods did not cause cognitive impairment or motor alterations, as evidenced in the short-term and visuospatial memory tests. Furthermore, the flaxseed oil treatment maintained a regular neuronal morphology of the prefrontal cortex, which represents a neuroprotective effect. We conclude that the oral administration of flaxseed oil prevents cognitive and motor impairments as well as neuronal alterations in rats with hyperammonemia, which supports the potential use of this oil to ameliorate the changes that occur in hepatic encephalopathy.

Pork fat (PF) is a necessary ingredient in making traditional fish cakes (TFCs), which contains saturated fatty acids with potential health concerns. While linseed oil (LO) containing α-linolenic acid is a potential nutrient-enhancing fat substitute. In this study, the effect of pork fat and linseed oil level on gel quality, sensory characteristics, microstructure, and protein conformation of TFCs were characterized. Results showed that the TFCs with 30% pork fat (wt/wt) had the highest gel strength. Additionally, sensory evaluation determined that TFCs with 30% pork fat scored the best by a sensory panel with high gel strength, water-holding capacity, and fresh and sweet taste. The gel strength, chewiness, and hardness of nutrient-enriched fish cakes with 20% linseed oil replaced for pork fat were higher than that only with pork fat (wt/wt) without changing in tenderness and elasticity. Visual results showed that the network was uniform at a moderate level of linseed oil addition (20% LO/PF replacement ratio). The results of this study provided technical guidelines for standardizing the TFC manufacture processes, and useful insight for the development of fish cakes with reduced animal fat content for additional health benefits for consumers., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The gut has been suggested as the first organ to be affected by unbalanced diets contributing to the obesogenic process. This study aimed to test a short time-course exposition model to a known pro- or anti-inflammatory enriched fatty diet to understand the early gut alterations. Male mice were exposed to the chow diet (CT), high-fat (HF) diet, or a high-fat diet partially replaced on flaxseed oil (FS), rich in omega-3 (ω3), for 14 days. HF and FS increased the total body weight mass compared with the CT group, but FS reduced the epididymal fat depot compared to HF. The bioinformatics from mice and human databases showed the Zo1-Ocln-Cldn7 tight junctions as the main protein-triad. In the ileum, the HF diet has increased IL1β transcript and IL1β, TNFα, and CD11b proteins, but reduced the tight junctions (Zo1, Ocln, and Cld7) compared to the CT group. Despite the FS diet being partially efficient in protecting the ileum against inflammation, the tight junctions were increased, compared to the HF group. The GPR120 and GPR40 receptors were unaffected by diets, but GPR120 was colocalized on the surface of ileum macrophages. The short period of a high-fat diet was enough to start the obesogenic process, ileum inflammation, and reduce the tight junctions. Flaxseed oil did not protect efficiently against dysmetabolism. Still, it increased the tight junctions, even without alteration on inflammatory parameters, suggesting the protection against gut permeability during early obesity development., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interests The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The microbiota gut-brain axis (mGBA) is an important contributor to mental health and neurological and mood disorders. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are endotoxins that are components of Gram-negative bacteria cell walls and have been widely shown to induce both systemic and neuro-inflammation. Flaxseed ( Linum usitatissimum ) is an oilseed rich in fibre, n3-poly-unsaturated fatty acid (alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)), and lignan, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, which all can induce beneficial effects across varying aspects of the mGBA. The objective of this study was to determine the potential for dietary supplementation with flaxseed or flaxseed oil to attenuate LPS-induced inflammation through modulation of the mGBA. In this study, 72 5-week-old male C57Bl/6 mice were fed one of three isocaloric diets for 3 weeks: (1) AIN-93G basal diet (BD), (2) BD + 10% flaxseed (FS), or (3) BD + 4% FS oil (FO). Mice were then injected with LPS (1 mg/kg i.p) or saline ( n = 12/group) and samples were collected 24 h post-injection. Dietary supplementation with FS, but not FO, partially attenuated LPS-induced systemic (serum TNF-α and IL-10) and neuro-inflammation (hippocampal and/or medial prefrontal cortex IL-10, TNF-α, IL-1β mRNA expression), but had no effect on sickness and nest-building behaviours. FS-fed mice had enhanced fecal microbial diversity with increased relative abundance of beneficial microbial groups (i.e., Lachnospiraceae, Bifidobacterium , Coriobacteriaceae), reduced Akkermansia muciniphila , and increased production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which may play a role in its anti-inflammatory response. Overall, this study highlights the potential for flaxseed to attenuate LPS-induced inflammation, in part through modulation of the intestinal microbiota, an effect which may not be solely driven by its ALA-rich oil component.

Enrichment of egg yolks with very long chain omega-3 fatty acids (VLCn-3 FA) is of interest because of their beneficial effects on human health. The ability of Ahiflower® oil (AHI; Buglossoides arvensis), which is naturally rich in stearidonic acid (SDA), and a high-alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) flaxseed (FLAX) oil to enrich eggs and tissues of laying hens with VLCn-3 FA was investigated. Forty 54-week-old Hy-Line W-36 White Leghorn hens were fed a diet that contained soybean oil (control; CON) or AHI or FLAX oils at 7.5 or 22.5 g/kg of the diet in substitution for the soybean oil for 28 days. Dietary treatments had no effects on egg number or components or follicle development. Total VLCn-3 FA contents of egg yolk, liver, breast, thigh, and adipose tissue were greater in the n-3 treatments compared to CON, with the greatest increase observed at the higher oil level, especially for AHI oil which had the greater VLCn-3 enrichment than FLAX in yolk (p < 0.001). Efficiency of VLCn-3 enrichment of egg yolks was decreased with n-3 oils and by increasing oil level with lowest efficiency at 22.5 g/kg FLAX. In conclusion, both SDA-rich (AHI) and ALA-rich (FLAX) oils increased VLCn-3 FA deposition into egg yolks and hens' tissues, but dietary AHI oil promoted a greater enrichment than comparative amounts of FLAX oil, especially in liver and egg yolks., (© 2023 The Authors. Lipids published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of AOCS.)

This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of vegetable oils as calcium salt on immune responses and the expression of immune-related genes in vaccinated lambs. Twenty-four lambs (35 kg body weight, 6 months old) were assigned to four treatments with six replicates in a completely randomized design for 40 days. Four concentrates were formulated in which the calcium salts of palm oil, canola oil, corn oil, and flaxseed oil were used. On day 30 of the experiment, lambs were vaccinated by a dose of foot-and-mouth disease virus. The blood samples were collected from jugular vein 10 days after vaccination. The level of malondialdehyde and the activity of liver enzymes were the highest in lambs receiving corn oil and the lowest in lambs receiving flaxseed oil. The highest lymphocytes and the lowest neutrophil percentages were observed in lambs receiving flaxseed oil. There was a significant difference among treatments for the relative genes expression. Flaxseed oil significantly upregulated interferon-γ and corn oil upregulated interleukin-1β. The highest titer against foot-and-mouth disease virus was related to lambs receiving flaxseed oil, and the lowest titer was related to lambs that received corn oil. Flaxseed oil had more beneficial effects on immune response than other oils., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Introduction: Flaxseed oil (FO) and vitamin E (VE) both have antioxidant effects on sperm. The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with FO and/or VE on semen quality., Methods: 16 fertile Simmental bulls were selected and randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 4): the control group (control diet), FO group (control diet containing 24 g/kg FO), VE group (control diet containing 150 mg/kg VE) and FOVE group (control diet containing 150 mg/kg VE and 24 g/kg FO), and the trial lasted 10 weeks., Results: The results showed that the addition of FO independently can increase sperm motion parameters, the levels of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2), while reduce oxidative stress in seminal plasma (P < 0.05). Supplement of VE independently can increased the motility, motility parameters, CAT and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and reduce oxidative stress in seminal plasma (P < 0.05). There was an interaction effect of FO × VE on motility and reactive oxygen species (ROS), while GSH-Px and ROS were affected by week × VE 2-way interaction, levels of T and E2 were also affected by the dietary FO × week interaction (P < 0.05). The triple interaction effects of FO, VE and week were significant for malondialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, sperm from the FOVE group had a significantly higher in vitro fertilization (IVF) rate, and subsequent embryos had increased developmental ability with reduced ROS levels at the eight-cell stage, then increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and gene expression levels of CAT, CDX2, Nanog, and SOD at the blastocyst stage (P < 0.05). Metabolomic and transcriptomic results indicated that dietary supplementation of FO and VE increased the expression of the metabolite aconitic acid, as well as the expression of ABAT and AHDHA genes., Conclusion: With in-silico analysis, it can be concluded that the effects of dietary FO and VE on improving semen quality and embryo development may be related to increased aconitic acid via the ABAT and AHDHA genes involved in the propionic acid metabolism pathway., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Yuan, Zhang, Wang, Ma, Liu, Zhao, Lu and Wang.)

It is known that long-term high-fat diet (HF) feeding drastically affects the adipose tissue, contributing to metabolic disorders. Recently, short-term HF consumption was shown to affect different neuronal signaling pathways. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the inflammatory effects of a short-term HF and whether a diet containing omega-3 fatty acid fats from flaxseed oil (FS) has protective effects. Mice were divided into three groups for 3 d, according to their diets: Control group (CT), HF, or FS for 3 d. Lipid profiles were assessed through mass spectrometry and inflammatory markers by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. After short-term HF, mice increased food intake, body weight, adiposity, and fasting glucose. Increased mRNA content of Ccl2 and Tnf was demonstrated in the HF compared to CT in mesenteric adipose tissue. In the liver, TNFα protein was higher in the HF group than in CT, followed by a decreased polyunsaturated fatty acids tissue incorporation in HF. On the other hand, the consumption of FS reduced food intake and fasting glucose, as well as increased omega-3 fatty acid incorporation in MAT and the liver. However, short-term FS was insufficient to control the early inflammation triggered by HF in MAT and the liver. These data demonstrated that a 3-d HF diet is enough to damage glucose homeostasis and trigger inflammation. In contrast, short-term FS protects against increased food intake and fasting glucose but not inflammation in mice., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interests The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The effects of docosahexaenoic acid supplements on cognitive function have long been demonstrated, but the effects of alpha-linolenic acid, a precursor of docosahexaenoic acid, have not been fully tested. The search for functional foods that delay cognitive decline in the older adults is considered a very important area from a preventive perspective. The aim of this study was to conduct an exploratory evaluation of alpha-linolenic acid on various cognitive functions in healthy older subjects. Sixty healthy older adults aged 65 to 80 years, living in Miyagi prefecture, without cognitive impairment or depression, were included in the randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Study subjects were randomly divided into two groups and received either 3.7 g/day of flaxseed oil containing 2.2 g of alpha-linolenic acid, or an isocaloric placebo (corn oil) containing 0.04 g of alpha-linolenic acid for 12 weeks. The primary endpoints were six cognitive functions closely related to everyday life: attention and concentration, executive function, perceptual reasoning, working memory, processing speed and memory function. After 12 weeks of intake, changes in verbal fluency scores on the frontal assessment battery at bedside, a neuropsychological test assessing executive function, in which participants are asked to answer as many words as possible in Japanese, were significantly greater in the intervention group (0.30 ± 0.53) than in the control group (0.03 ± 0.49, p < 0.05). All other cognitive test scores were not significantly different between the groups. In conclusion, daily consumption of flaxseed oil containing 2.2 g alpha-linolenic acid improved cognitive function, specifically verbal fluency, despite the age-related decline, in healthy individuals with no cognitive abnormalities. Further validation studies focusing on the effects of alpha-linolenic acid on verbal fluency and executive function in older adults are needed, as verbal fluency is a predictor of Alzheimer's disease development, important for cognitive health.

Teressa goat is a unique goat breed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) of India. Effects of Flaxseed oil (FSO) supplementation in body weight (BW), scrotal circumference (SC), testicular volume (TV) and testicular weight (TW), endocrinological profiles, sex behavioural profiles (SBPs), oxidative stress markers and semen production and its quality profiles in rainy and dry summer season were studied in Teressa goat. Male goats (n = 12) of 3-4 years old were equally divided into control and treated groups. Treated animals received 25 mL FSO per day. Oral drenching of FSO was done in the morning before feeding the concentrate ration. Body weight, scrotal circumference, TV and TW were measured in bucks of FSO treated and untreated during rainy and dry summer seasons. Blood follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), cortisol and prolactin, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in bucks of FSO treated and untreated during rainy and dry summer seasons. Libido score (LS), mating ability score (MAS) and sex behavioural score (SBS) were estimated at time of semen collection in bucks of FSO treated and untreated during rainy and dry summer seasons. Semen samples (n = 100; 50 semen samples from each season; each 25 semen samples from control and treatment groups per season) were collected and analysed for semen quality profiles. One-way ANOVA (control rainy, control dry, treated rainy and treated dry) revealed that BW, SC, TV and TW, FSH, LH, testosterone, TSH, T3 and T4 were higher (P < 0.05) and cortisol and prolactin were lower (P < 0.05) in FSO treated bucks of rainy season followed by untreated bucks of rainy season, FSO treated bucks of dry summer season and were lower (P < 0.05) in untreated bucks of dry summer season. Similarly, TAC, CAT, SOD and GSH, LS, MAS and SBS, and volume, pH, sperm concentration, mass activity, total motility (TM), viability, acrosomal integrity (AcI), plasma membrane integrity (PMI) and nuclear integrity (NI) were higher (P < 0.05) and MDA and TSA were lower (P < 0.05) in FSO treated bucks of rainy season followed by FSO treated bucks of dry summer season, untreated bucks of rainy season and were lower (P < 0.05) in untreated bucks of dry summer season. The results of the present study indicated that the breeding bucks suffered physiological stress (higher cortisol), oxidative stress (higher MDA and deficiency of antioxidants), hormonal imbalance (higher prolactin and cortisol and deficiency of gonadotropins, gonadal hormone and thyroid hormones) and infertility due to poor libido and poor semen production and its quality profiles during dry summer season. Thus, dry summer was more stressful season compared to rainy season for the goat bucks. FSO supplementation mitigated these stresses and improved the scrotal and testicular biometrics, libido, antioxidants, hormones and semen quality profiles in Teressa goat bucks. The current study concluded that FSO effectively improved the hormones, libido, antioxidant profiles, and scrotal and testicular biometrics with cascading beneficial effects on semen quality profiles in Teressa goat bucks under humid tropical island ecosystem of Andaman and Nicobar Islands., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Society for Biology of Reproduction & the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective. The intent of the present study was to test two hypotheses. The primary hypothesis was that there would be differences between blood serum individual free fatty acids (SIFFA) and serum individual total fatty acids (SITFA) in terms of their different relationships (correlations) to each of homeostatic model assessment-individual insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and homeostatic model assessment-individual insulin resistance-percentage β-cell function (HOMA-% β) remaining in human type 2 diabetic patients with pre-flaxseed oil (FXO) and pre-safflower oil (SFO) administration. The secondary hypothesis was that FXO (rich in alpha-linolenic acid, ALA) supplementation would alter these correlations differently in the SIFFA and STIFFA pools in comparison with the placebo SFO (poor in ALA). Methods. Patients were recruited via a newspaper advertisement and two physicians. All patients came to visit 1 and three months later to visit 2. At visit 2, the subjects were randomly assigned (double-blind) to flaxseed or safflower oil (placebo) treatment for three months until visit 3. Results. There were pre-intervention differences in the SIFFA and STIFA pool's relationships with each of HOMA-IR and HOMA-% β. These relatioships remained either unchanged or became significant after intervention (treatment or placebo). There was a negative correlation found between HOMA-IR and serum free ALA (SFALA) mol % after FXO. Serum total ALA (STALA) mol % had no significant correlations with HOMA-IR and HOMA- % β before and after flaxseed oil administration. Conclusions. The SIFFA and SITFA pools have different relationships with HOMA-IR and HOMA-% β for each of pre- and post-intervention. It is concluded that the data support both the primary and the secondary hypotheses indicating that they are correct., (© 2023 Douglas E. Barre et al., published by Sciendo.)

The reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are produced during storage of boar semen are causing oxidative stress and leads to poor fertility. Also, tropical and sub-tropical weather condition adversely impacts the physicomorphological quality and fertility of boar sperm. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of feeding linseed oil to boar on its seminal attributes, sperm kinetics, biomarkers of antioxidant, fatty acid profile of seminal plasma (SP) and sperm and in vivo fertility. Six Hampshire crossbreed boars were fed with 90 ml linseed oil (LIN) whereas six Hampshire crossbreed boars were fed 90 ml canola oil (CON) for 16 weeks. Sperm quality was evaluated (60 ejaculates for each group; a total of 120 ejaculates) for motility, livability, abnormal morphology, acrosomal membrane integrity, hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) and sperm kinetic parameters by computer assisted semen analysis (CASA) at 0 h and at 72 h of storage at 17°C. Biomarkers of antioxidant (glutathione peroxidase; GPx, catalase; CAT, total antioxidant capacity; TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in SP and serum. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for the estimation of fatty acid composition of SP and sperm. Boars fed with linseed oil had higher semen volume (p < .01) and more total sperm numbers (p < .01). Feeding linseed oil to boar enhanced seminal attributes (p < .05) at 0 h as well as at 72 h of storage. Linseed oil feeding (p < .01) improved biomarkers of antioxidants and significantly (p < .01) lowered the lipid peroxidation in serum and SP. Linseed oil feeding (p < .05) increased the proportion of alpha linolenic (ALA), arachidonic and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids in SP. The ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids in sperm increased significantly (p < .01) in treatment group. Farrowing rate was significantly (p < .05) higher in treatment group. In conclusion, feeding linseed oil to boar improved the in vivo fertility, enhanced antioxidant capacity and increased the DHA content of SP and sperm., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of supplementing flaxseed oil (FO) or vitamin E (VE) or their combination to an extender for Simmental bull semen cryopreservation. In experiment 1, different concentrations of FO (0, 10, 100, and 1000 ng/mL) and VE (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mg/mL) were added to the extenders. In experiment 2, FO, VE, and FO + VE were added and a control group was included. Sperm viability, motility, motion parameters, acrosome integrity and membrane integrity, endogenous antioxidant indices, reactive oxygen species, and malondialdehyde levels were evaluated after semen thawing. A higher percentage of viability, motion parameters, endogenous antioxidant indices, and membrane integrity was observed after supplementation with 10 ng/mL FO or 0.1 mg/mL VE compared with the control group ( p  < 0.05). Also, combined supplementation of 10 ng/mL FO +0.1 mg/mL VE further improved the quality of frozen-thawed sperm by regulating viability, motion parameters, membrane integrity, and endogenous antioxidant indices compared with the FO or VE alone ( p  < 0.05). These results indicated that FO (10 ng/mL) + VE (0.1 mg/mL) could further improve the protective effects on bull sperm post-thaw.

We systematically reviewed randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to elucidate the overall effects of flaxseed oil consumption on blood pressure (BP) in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders. PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ISI Web of Science databases were systematically searched until March 31, 2020, to find RCTs that examined the effect of flaxseed oil consumption on BP. Weighed mean difference (WMD) was pooled using a random-effects model. Standard methods were used for the assessment of heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias. Meta-analysis of five trials (6 arms) showed significant reductions in systolic (WMD: -3.86 mmHg, 95% CI: -7.59 to -0.13, p = .04) BP (SBP) after flaxseed oil consumption. However, the overall effect illustrated no significant change in diastolic (WMD: -1.71 mmHg, 95% CI: -3.67 to 0.26, p = .09) BP (DBP) in the intervention group compared with the control group. Our findings revealed that flaxseed oil consumption has favorable effects on SBP in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders. However, further investigations are needed to provide more reliable evidence., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Appetite control has attracted many scientists' attention recently since it can lead to weight management and the prevention of further metabolic disorders. Many studies have been carried out to assess the effect of flaxseed on satiety perception but the results are controversial. This study aims to review these results comprehensively. PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched for related papers on June 2021. The searched keywords for appetite were: visual analog scale, appetite, desire to eat, satiation, satiety, hunger, fullness, and for Flaxseed they were: flax, flax*, linseed*, lignin*, Linseed Oil, flaxseed, ground flaxseed, flaxseed oil, and Linum usitatissimum. The 13 included studies were inconsistent in results and some of them found no significant effect of flaxseed on the considered outcomes. However, three studies revealed a significant reduction in hunger perception as well as appetite. Moreover, two studies found a decreasing effect on prospective consumption. Three studies observed a positive significant effect on fullness and satiety. Although there are a limited number of documents related to the effect of flaxseed on appetite perception, or its equivalent terms, the available studies suggest the potential role of flaxseed in decreasing appetite and hunger., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Environmental heat stress in sub-tropical climates negatively impacts boar semen production and its quality. The present study aimed to examine the heat stress alleviating effects of dietary linseed oil on semen quality and antioxidant status of boar, in the summer and winter seasons in sub-tropical climate. Six Hampshire crossbreed boars were fed with 90 mL linseed oil (treatment) whereas six boars of the same breed were fed 90 mL vegetable oil (control) for sixteen weeks during both season. Sperm quality was assessed for motility, viability, abnormality, acrosomal integrity, and Hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST). Sperm velocity attributes were assessed by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). Antioxidants (glutathione peroxidase; GPx, catalase; CAT, total antioxidant capacity; TAC and nitric oxide; NO) and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde; MDA) were measured in seminal plasma and serum. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for the estimation of fatty acid composition of seminal plasma and spermatozoa. Feeding linseed oil to the boars significantly (p < 0.05) improved sperm quality at the fresh stage and after 72 h of liquid storage in both season. There was a significant (p < 0.01) effect of treatment and season on semen quality parameters. Significant boar (p < 0.05) effect was recorded on reaction time, semen volume, sperm abnormality, acrosomal integrity and HOST reactive sperm. There was a significant (p < 0.01) effect of treatment and season on the velocity attributes viz. VAP, VSL, VCL, ALH, BCF and STR%. Linseed oil supplementation significantly (p < 0.01) enhanced antioxidant and lowered MDA levels in serum as well as seminal plasma. The concentration of alpha-linolenic (ALA), arachidonic and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids were significantly (p < 0.01) increased in seminal plasma and sperm after linseed oil supplementation. In conclusion, linseed oil supplementation to boar during high THI months improved the semen quality parameters viz. semen volume, sperm concentration, and progressive motile sperm, along with enhanced antioxidant capacity., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different dietary lipid sources on growth performance, lipid metabolism, and physiological stress responses including oxidative stress (OS) and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) of juvenile Acanthopagrus schlegelii (initial weight 0.88 ± 0.01 g) fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets containing different lipid sources were formulated: fish oil (FO), palm oil (PO), linseed oil (LO), and soybean oil (SO), respectively. Results indicated that fish fed HFD supplemented with FO significantly improved growth than SO treatment. The high concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase were found in HFD supplemented with SO. Fish fed dietary LO supplementation showed significantly lower serum cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein contents than those in SO group. Likewise, hepatic paraffin section analysis indicated that HFD with PO or SO supplementation increased fat drop. The expression levels of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor alpha (pparα) and silent regulator 1 (sirt1) were significantly elevated by HFD with FO or LO supplementation. Additionally, the key marker of OS malonaldehyde was significantly increased in FO and SO groups. ERS-related genes were activated in dietary PO or SO supplementation and, hence, triggering inflammation and apoptosis by promoting the expression levels of nuclear factor kappa B (nf-κb) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (jnk). Overall, the present study reveals that lipid metabolic disorders and physiological stress caused by a HFD have significant lipid source-dependent effects, which have important guiding significance for the use of HFD in marine fish., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Ross 308 chickens were used to investigate fatty acid (FA) composition and oxidative stability of broiler chicken meat following the controlled inhibition of peroxidation in feed containing a concentrated source of omega-3 fatty acids (flaxseed oil, FLO), approximately 50% omega-3. Ninety-six one-day-old chicks were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments (n = 24/group) that included rapeseed oil (RO), flaxseed oil (FLO), RO with optimised quercetin (Q) - RO&#95;Q, or FLO with optimised Q (FLO&#95;Q). On day 35, breast and thigh muscles were collected in order to analyse their FA profile and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Dietary treatments had no effect on weight gain or feed conversion ratio in chickens. However, dietary FLO increased the deposition of α-linolenic acid in both pectoral and thigh meat (P < 0.05), and tended to decrease the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 FA in pectoral muscles (P < 0.07). Addition of an optimised concentration of Q proved to be an efficient way of limiting lipoperoxidation in breast and thigh muscles subjected to refrigeration at 2-3 °C for either 1 or 7 days. Results were consistent with the observed inhibition of peroxidation in feed mixtures and significantly correlated with MDA levels found in feed mixtures. These results provide evidence that it is possible to produce poultry meat with an improved proportion of omega-3 FA without significantly altering the performance of broiler chickens or the oxidative stability of their meat., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A 95-day feeding study was carried out to evaluate the impact of complete replacement of fish oil by plant oils in the growth performance, feed consumption fatty acid and body composition of juvenile rabbitfish, Siganus rivulatus. There were four treatments i.e., A (fish oil diet), (linseed oil diet), C (soybean meal oil diet) and D (sunflower oil diet). The experimental trial was conducted in twelve 1.5-m3 fiber glass tanks (n=3). Spinefoot rabbitfish juveniles had an average initial weight of 0.948 g ± 0.124 g and they were stocked at 50 fish per tank. Fish fed diet A showed significantly better growth rate, final body weight, and total body weight than fish fed on the other diets. Moreover, the best FCR was observed for diet A followed by diet C and diets B and D had the worst FCR. Fish body composition for crude protein, dry matter, ashes and gross energy at the end of the trial had not differed between the treatments. The highest polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was found in fish fed diet A followed in decreasing order by diets D, B, and C. Fish oil is a better dietary lipid source for Spinefoot rabbitfish juveniles, Siganus rivulatus, than plant oils. Among plant oils, soybean oil was better than linseed oil and sunflower oil as the main dietary fat source.

The objective of this study is to assess, in zebrafish, the effects of combining linseed oil (LO) and clove leaf essential oil (CLEO) on the incorporation of fatty acids in the muscle, oxidative markers, lipid peroxidation and expression of the PPAR-α (Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-α) and the SREBP-2 (Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein-2) genes. Six diets were prepared, containing combinations of LO (3, 6 and 9%) and CLEO (0.5 and 1%): 3% LO + 0.5% CLEO; 3% LO + 1% CLEO; 6% LO + 0.5% CLEO; 6% LO + 1% CLEO; 9% LO + 0.5% CLEO; 9% LO + 1% CLEO. Results showed increase in the incorporation of n-3 fatty acids in the muscle concomitantly with the addition of LO and CLEO. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were reduced and the glutathione content had increased. Lipid peroxidation was lower in the treatment with 1% CLEO, regardless of LO content. The expression of the PPAR-α and the SREBP-2 genes was higher in animals fed 9% LO + 0.5% CLEO. Therefore, for a greater incorporation and protection against the oxidative damages of n-3 fatty acids, a combined use of 9% LO with 0.5% CLEO is recommended for zebrafish.

The Western diet, rich in lipids and in n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), favors gut dysbiosis observed in Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to assess the effects of rebalancing the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in CEABAC10 transgenic mice that mimic CD. Mice in individual cages with running wheels were randomized in three diet groups for 12 weeks: high-fat diet (HFD), HFD + linseed oil (HFD-LS-O) and HFD + extruded linseed (HFD-LS-E). Then, they were orally challenged once with the Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) LF82 pathobiont. After 12 weeks of diet, total energy intake, body composition, and intestinal permeability were not different between groups. After the AIEC-induced intestinal inflammation, fecal lipocalin-2 concentration was lower at day 6 in n-3 PUFAs supplementation groups (HFD-LS-O and HFD-LS-E) compared to HFD. Analysis of the mucosa-associated microbiota showed that the abundance of Prevotella , Paraprevotella , Ruminococcus , and Clostridiales was higher in the HFD-LS-E group. Butyrate levels were higher in the HFD-LS-E group and correlated with the Firmicutes/Proteobacteria ratio. This study demonstrates that extruded linseed supplementation had a beneficial health effect in a physically active mouse model of CD susceptibility. Additional studies are required to better decipher the matrix influence in the linseed supplementation effect.

Background: Antiangiogenic agents are commonly used for the management of many types of cancers. Flaxseed oil is a wealthy source of omega-3,omega-6, and lignans, and possesses anticancerous and antioxidant activities., Objective: To investigate the antiangiogenic activity of flaxseed oil alone and in combination with mefenamic acid in a dose-response study., Methods: Oil was extracted from flaxseeds. The ex vivo rat aorta ring assay was used to screen the flaxseed oil alone and in combination with mefenamic acid for possible antiangiogenic activity. Also, the assay was used to determine the dose-response effect.An in vivo chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay was used to quantify the zone of inhibition of blood vessel by flaxseed oil., Results: The 200,100,50,25,12.5, and 6.25µg/ml of the flaxseed oil inhibited blood vessel growth with values of 91±0.42, 84±2.06,36±2.71, 21±2.15,23±1.56, and 5±0.93%, respectively, withan IC50 value of 45.695 µg/ml. These concentrations showed a dose-dependent inhibition of angiogenesis. At 200, 100, and 50 µg/ml of flaxseed oil in combination with 50 µg/ml of mefenamic acid inhibited blood vessel growth with inhibition percentages of 81.48±0.82,79.63±0.75, and 77.78±1.26, respectively, with an IC50 of 2.27 µg/ml. Also, these concentrations indicated a dose-dependent inhibition of angiogenesis.  Flaxseed oil produced a significant inhibition zone of blood vessels in the CAM assay. The LD50 for flaxseed oil was 5.656g/kg., Conclusion: Flaxseed oil alone and in combination with mefenamic acid exhibited antiangiogenic activity both in ex vivo and in vivo assays. At doses of 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, and 0.312 g/kg of flaxseed oil intraperitoneally injected into mice, no symptoms of toxicity or death of mice due to acute toxicity were observed. However, doses of 5 and 10 g/kg of oil resulted in the death of the majority of mice.

Background: Mercury is a relentless pollutant, and its toxicity contributes to significant health problems due to exposure to the environment. The present study has determined the impact of flaxseed oil on mercuric chloride (HgCl 2 )-mediated hepatic oxidative toxicity in rats., Methods: Twenty-four healthy male Wistar rats were divided into four groups with six animals in each group. Group-A was the Control group treated with saline; Group-B received 1.0 ml oral dosage of flaxseed oil; Group-C was given 200 µl intraperitoneal injection of HgCl 2, and Group-D received 1.0 ml oral dosage of flaxseed oil (one hour after treatment with 200 µl intraperitoneal injection of HgCl 2 ., Results: Mercuric chloride (HgCl 2 ) increased the production of malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), and the concentration of HgCl 2 in the liver tissue with a simultaneous decrease in the activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Furthermore, serum HgCl 2 elevated the activity of alanine transaminase (ALT) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Histopathological changes showed that liver injury was caused by mercuric chloride. Treatment with flaxseed oil ameliorated ROS production and reversed enzymes in serum and liver. Also, a noticeable improvement was observed in all the histopathological characteristics in the rats., Conclusions: The findings of this study concluded that flaxseed oil had an outstanding remedial effect on mercuric chloride-mediated hepatic cytotoxicity., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The incidence of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders has increased worldwide. Clinical and experimental research has shown that the consumption of ω-3 FAs can be beneficial to metabolism in several ways, as they can act on metabolic pathways. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of treatment with linseed oil, a vegetable oil rich in alpha-linolenic acid, and EPA and DHA in different proportions (3:1 EPA:DHA, and 1:3 EPA:DHA), on the metabolic disorders induced by a high-fat diet (20 % lipids) in rats for 2 weeks, after 18 weeks of consumption of a high-fat diet. In 18 weeks, the high-fat diet increased blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride concentration in the liver and adipose tissue, and impaired insulin sensibility without interfering in the weight of the animals. All treatments were effective in reducing the deposition of hepatic type III collagen, the proportion of ω-6/ω-3 in the liver and WAT (white adipose tissue), the proportion of area/number of adipocytes, and the gene expression of the ACC, FAS, and CPT1 enzymes. In addition, treatment with EPA and DHA reduced blood glucose, serum TNF-α concentration, amount of liver fat, degree of microsteatosis and type I collagen deposition in the liver, deposition of type I and III collagen in TA, gene expression of the transcription factor SREBP-1c, and increased hepatic binucleation. EPA in major proportion was more effective in reducing the area of adipocytes, hepatic triglyceride concentration, PPAR-α expression, and WAT fat weight. DHA in a major proportion reduced the concentration of MCP1 in WAT. LO treatment did not have any isolated effects. We concluded that EPA and DHA were more effective in treating metabolic damage than treatment with LO, leading to a more favorable metabolic profile., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The impact of omega-3 nutritional manipulation on semen cryosurvival and quality post thawing is controversial. Our aim was to examine how feeding bulls with omega-3 supplementation from different sources affects the spermatozoa quality parameters. Fifteen Israeli Holstein bulls were fed for 13 weeks with a standard ration top-dressed with encapsulated-fat supplementation: fish or flaxseed oil or saturated fatty acids (control). Ejaculates were collected before, during, and after the feeding trial. Frozen-thawed samples were evaluated by a flow cytometer for spermatozoa viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), acrosome membrane integrity, DNA fragmentation, phosphatidylserine translocation, and membrane fluidity. Both fish and flaxseed oil treatment resulted in lower ROS levels vs. control groups, during and after the feeding trial. Fewer spermatozoa with damaged acrosomes were observed in the fish oil group after the feeding trial. The spermatozoa membrane fluidity was altered in both the fish and flaxseed oil groups throughout the feeding trial, but only in the flaxseed oil group after the feeding trial. The proportion of spermatozoa with fragmented DNA was lower in the flaxseed oil group after the feeding trial. The spermatozoa fertilization competence did not differ between groups however, blastocyst formation rate was higher in the fish and flaxseed oil groups relative to the control. This was associated with differential gene expression in the blastocysts. Overall, the omega-3-enriched food improved the spermatozoa characteristics; this was further expressed in the developing blastocysts, suggesting a carryover effect from the spermatozoa to the embryos., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Flaxseed oil is an excellent source of alpha-linolenic acid ALA known for its antihypertensive action. Flaxseed oil is unstable and its dose is not achievable in our conventional diet hence blending of natural flaxseed oil with palm oil, containing high flavonoids may be a better strategy, to stabilize the blend and provide proper balance of essential fatty acids and potential antioxidant effects. Aim of this study was to access the effect of blended flaxseed oil on 24 h 7-day circadian variations of blood pressure in subjects with essential hypertension. Assessment of CHAT (circadian hyper amplitude tension) using ABPM is the best marker for cardiovascular function. We registered 50 subjects with CAD (Group 1) and 50 subjects with Essential hypertension HT (Group 2) and 52 control subjects with CAD/Hypertension. Group 1 and 2 participant was supplemented with blended flaxseed oil (BFO) (30 ml/day) for the period of 24 weeks, while control group administered available oils sunflower in identical containers, for a follow-up period of 24 weeks. Twenty four hour seven days continuous ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was done initially and after six months of BFO supplementation. There were significant changes noted in lipid profile along with Ambulatory blood pressure parameters like MESOR, ACROPHASE, Hyperbaric Indexes, and CHAT. Circadian hyper amplitude tension (CHAT) incidence decreased after BFO supplementation. Study results suggest that blended flaxseed oil administration can be a potent natural vegetarian antihypertensive supplement which helps in synchronization of cardiac rhythms, and can be used as a preventive treatment of hypertension and as effective vegetarian source of maintaining Omega 3 and omega 6 ratios of essential fatty acids in the body., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

There is evidence of a relationship between increased energy intake and the development of metabolic inflammation and insulin resistance (IR), and between the aforementioned metabolic state and impaired tolerance to heat stress. Based on the anti-inflammatory properties and mitigating effects on IR and stress of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), an experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of n-3 PUFA supplementation to feedlot-finished steers during summer on animal performance, physiological and biochemical variables associated with glucose metabolism, heat and preslaughter-induced stress, and meat quality. A total of 48 Angus steers (388 ± 2 kg) were fed one of three corn-based finishing diets containing (dry matter basis) 0% added oil (CON; negative control), or 1.90% of sunflower oil-calcium salt (SUN; positive control), or 1.92% of linseed oil-calcium salt (LIN). There was a trend (P = 0.08) for greater dry matter intake (DMI) and greater (P = 0.02) average daily gain (ADG) in LIN-fed animals compared with the average between those that received the CON or SUN diets, whereas no differences (P ≥ 0.34) were observed between the latter. No other performance, physiological, or carcass variables were affected (P ≥ 0.12) by treatment. Blood glucose and insulin were similar (P ≥ 0.14), though the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) which gauges IR tended (P = 0.06) to be reduced for LIN-fed animals compared with the average between those that received the CON or SUN diets. Blood insulin and HOMA increased linearly (P ≤ 0.01) with days on feed. An interaction between the study phase (feeding period or slaughter) and treatment was observed (P ≤ 0.05) for glucose and cortisol. While the magnitude of glucose increase (P < 0.01) from the end of the feeding period to slaughter was greater for CON- and SUN-fed animals compared with LIN-fed ones, cortisol increased (P < 0.05) only in animals that received CON or SUN diets. Meat quality attributes were not affected (P ≥ 0.16) by treatment. The concentration of n-3 PUFA was greater (P < 0.01) and n-6:n-3 ratio was lesser (P < 0.01) in meat from LIN-fed animals compared with that resulting from the average between the animals that received the negative (CON) or positive (SUN) control diets. Results suggest that n-3 PUFA supplementation mitigated metabolic alterations associated with IR and preslaughter-related stress. It may have also improved tolerance to heat, resulting in greater DMI and ADG of steers fed a high-energy diet during summer. Results also indicate that glucose metabolism and heat stress tolerance worsen with time when feeding concentrate-based diets., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

We investigated the effects of supplementary calcium salt of fatty acid (CSFA) from linseed oil with different oil adsorbents on in vitro gas production and rumen fermentation characteristics in barley substrate condition. A non-supplementation treatment (CONT) and treatments of six products, CSFA without oil adsorbent (2.1 fatty acid/Ca molar ratio) and CSFAs with silica gel, zeolite, bentonite, diatomite, and vermiculite (2.8 fatty acid/Ca molar ratio), were prepared. The supplementary 2% and 4% CSFA with silica gel (+S) in the substrate reduced CH 4 production 56% and 79%, respectively, compared with that in CONT (p < 0.01). The products, except for +S, did not decrease CH 4 production. The dry matter (DM) disappearance in CSFAs with oil adsorbents was lower than that in the CSFA without oil adsorbent (74.8%-77.3% vs. 79.3%, p < 0.01), and crude protein (CP) disappearance in +S supplementation was lower than that of the other products (53.5% vs. 57.2%-59.1%, p < 0.01). The +S supplementation decreased acetate proportion and increased propionate proportion (p < 0.01). Our study indicated that although the disappearance of DM and CP might decrease, using silica gel as an oil adsorbent of linseed oil calcium salt with high fatty acid/Ca molar ratio has the potential to mitigate CH 4 emissions from ruminants., (© 2022 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)

Background: Aberrant angiogenesis plays a fateful role in the development of diabetes and diabetic complications. Lipids, as a diverse group of biomacromolecules, are able to relieve diabetes through the modulation of angiogenesis., Objectives: Owing to the present remarkable anti-diabetic effects with no or few side effects of lipids, the aim of this study was to assess the state-of-the-art research on anti-diabetic effects of lipids via the modulation of angiogenesis., Methods: To study the effects of lipids in diabetes via modulation of angiogenesis, we have searched the electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane., Results: The promising anti-diabetic effects of lipids were reported in several studies. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from fish oil (FO) were reported to significantly induce neovasculogenesis in high glucose (HG)-mediated endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) with neovasculogenesis dysfunction in type 2 diabetic mice. Linoleic acid, mono-epoxy-tocotrienol- α (MeT3α), and ginsenoside Rg1 facilitate wound closure and vessel formation. N-Palmitoylethanolamine (PEA), α-linolenic acid (ALA), omega-3 (ω3) lipids from flaxseed (FS) oil, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), lipoic acid, taurine, and zeaxanthin (Zx) are effective in diabetic retinopathy via suppression of angiogenesis. Lysophosphatidic acid, alkyl-glycerophosphate, crocin, arjunolic acid, α-lipoic acid, and FS oil are involved in the management of diabetes and its cardiac complications. Furthermore, in two clinical trials, R-(+)-lipoic acid (RLA) in combination with hyperbaric oxygenation therapy (HBOT) for treatment of chronic wound healing in DM patients, as well as supplementation with DHA plus antioxidants along with intravitreal ranibizumab were investigated for its effects on diabetic macular edema., Conclusion: Proof-of-concept studies presented here seem to well shed light on the anti-diabetic effects of lipids via modulation of angiogenesis., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Brain benefits from physical exercise associated with antioxidant supplements such as flaxseed oil. This low cost and simple association may improve hippocampal plasticity, which may work as a preventive and effective therapy in neuroprotection and neuroplasticity processes. This work evaluated the effects of physical exercise with flaxseed oil supplementation (Linum usitatissimum L.) in the hippocampus of Wistar rats. We separated male Wistar rats into four experimental groups: control group (sedentary), a sedentary group with a supplemental diet of flaxseed oil, a group under exercise program with flaxseed oil supplementation, and a group exclusively under exercise program. The swimming exercise consisted of a progressive 28‑day protocol followed by behavioral assessment, brain perfusion, microtomy, immunohistochemistry for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), cellular morphology, and optical density analysis. We used the ANOVA test with Tukey's post‑test for behavioral analysis. The exercise program with flaxseed oil supplementation was able to alter the GFAP expression in astrocytes in the CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus regions of the hippocampus and modulate the behavioral aspects of memory and anxiety.

Gut microbial processing of dietary flaxseed (FS) contributes to its health benefits, but the relative effects of its bioactive components (lignans, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber) on the microbiota are unclear. We investigated the gut microbial compositional and functional responses to whole FS and its isolated components, FS oil (FSO) and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) (precursor to microbial-derived enterolignans) to help understand their contribution to whole FS benefits. Cecum content and fecal samples were collected from C57BL/6 female mice fed a basal diet (AIN93G) or isocaloric diets containing 10% FS or 10% FS-equivalent amounts of FSO or SDG for 21 days. Cecal and fecal microbiota composition and predicted genomic functions, and their relationship with serum enterolignans were evaluated. Only FS modified the community structure. Shared- and diet-specific enriched taxa and functions were identified. Carbohydrate and protein processing functions were enriched in FS mice, and there was a positive correlation between select enriched taxa, encompassing fiber degraders and SDG metabolizers, and serum enterolignans. This was not observed in mice receiving isolated FSO and SDG, suggesting that FS fiber supports SDG microbial metabolism. In conclusion, the cooperative activities of a diverse microbiota are necessary to process FS components and, when administered at the amount present in FS, these components may act together to affect SDG-derived enterolignans production. This has implications for the use of FS, FSO and SDG in clinical practice., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and linseed oil (LO) supplementation are effective strategies to reduce obesity-induced oxidative stress. Our aim was to determine whether the HIIT + LO combination prevents obesity-induced oxidative stress in high fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. HFD-fed 8-week-old, male, Wistar rats were subdivided in four groups: HFD, LO (2% of sunflower oil replaced with 2% of LO in the HFD), HIIT (4 days/week for 12 weeks), and HIIT + LO. Wistar rats fed a low-fat diet (LFD) were used as controls. Epididymal and subcutaneous adipose tissue, gastrocnemius muscle, liver, and plasma samples were collected to measure oxidative stress markers (AOPP, oxLDL), antioxidant (SOD, CAT, and GPx activities) and pro-oxidant (NOx and XO) enzyme activities. Compared with the LFD, the HFD altered the pro/antioxidant status in different tissues (increase of AOPP, oxLDL, SOD and catalase activities in plasma, and SOD activity increase in liver and decrease in adipose tissues) but not in gastrocnemius. LO upregulated CAT activity and decreased NOx in liver. HIIT alleviated HFD negative effects in liver by reducing SOD and NOx activities. Moreover, the HIIT + LO combination potentiated SOD activity upregulation in subcutaneous tissue. HIIT and LO supplementation have independent beneficial effects on the pro/antioxidant balance. Their association promotes SOD activity in subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Flaxseed oil is an excellent source of the essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Omega-3 PUFAs are important neuronal components and can counteract aggressive, depressive, and anxiety-like behavior, reduce glucocorticoid (e.g. cortisol) concentrations under chronic stress but also increase acute glucocorticoid responses. As glucocorticoids per se and glucocorticoid responsiveness can modulate the establishment of dominance hierarchies, we investigated if flaxseed oil high in ALA can promote social dominance through effects on glucocorticoid concentrations. Two male and two female groups of domestic guinea pigs (n = 9 per group) were maintained on a control or a 5% (w/w) flaxseed oil diet for four weeks. Social behaviors, hierarchy indices, locomotion, and saliva cortisol concentrations were determined during basal group housing conditions and stressful social confrontations with unfamiliar individuals of the other groups. Flaxseed groups had increased basal cortisol concentrations and showed no cortisol increase during social confrontations. Cortisol concentrations in control groups significantly increased during social confrontations. Such higher cortisol responses positively affected individual hierarchy indices in control males. However, flaxseed males became dominant irrespective of cortisol concentrations. In females, the opposite was detected, namely a higher dominant status in control compared to flaxseed females. Open-field- and dark-light-tests for anxiety-like behavior revealed no pronounced differences, but flaxseed males showed the highest locomotor activity. Flaxseed oil as an ALA source sex-specifically promoted social dominance irrespective of cortisol concentrations and responses. The underlying neuronal mechanisms remain to be determined, but a sex-specific energetic advantage may have accounted for this effect., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The current study aims to investigate the effects of dietary source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on immune response in broiler chickens, represented by cytotoxic cell activity. A total of 255 one-day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chickens were fed on fish oil (FO)-, flaxseed oil-enriched diets at 50 and 19 g/kg, respectively, in addition to the soybean-based control diet. At slaughter, samples of blood and spleen were harvested from 20 birds/treatment (n = 20). The immune tissues' fatty acid profile was analyzed by gas chromatography, and the cytotoxic cell activity was investigated. The results showed that supplementing broiler chickens with diets rich in n-3 PUFA had a substantial effect on the broiler immune tissues' fatty acid profile. Cytotoxic cell activity was significantly higher in splenocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from broilers fed flaxseed oil than those provided FO and the soybean control diet. These results suggest that flaxseed oil may be used to enrich chickens with n-3 PUFA and improve the immune status of chicken flocks to resist diseases.